Alexander: $4.3 Million Smokies History And Archive Facility Approved

Friday, February 7, 2014

Senator Lamar Alexander on Friday announced that the U.S. Department of Interior has approved federal funding to complete the $4.3 million Joint Curatorial Collections Facility that will house more than 800,000 historical artifacts and archival records at Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Construction could begin as early as this summer.

“This is great news for everyone who loves the Great Smoky Mountains, especially because the new center will honor families who once lived in the park,” Senator Alexander said. “This was made possible only because of years of effort by dedicated park service employees and by the generosity of friends of the Smokies.”

The Joint Curatorial Collections Facility will preserve 422,000 historical artifacts and 450,000 archival records, including land records, oral histories, historic photos and park operating records, and items such as clothing, vintage weapons, logging-era equipment, farm tools and other possessions from the individuals and families living on the farmsteads of the Southern Appalachians in pre-park days. The archival collections will also include President Andrew Johnson’s presidential papers.

The total cost for funding the facility is $4.3 million, with approximately $2.3 million coming from private donations. In addition to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, other federal park and recreation areas will be able to make use of the new joint facility, including the Andrew Johnson National Historic Site, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area, Cumberland Gap National Historic Park and Obed Wild and Scenic River. These sites currently house artifacts and records in facilities that do not meet National Park Service standards for physical security, or environmental controls to protect them from mold, insects, and fire.

Here is the fishing report from the TWRA: Center Hill Reservoir : Reservoir Conditions : Current water elevation is 632.5. The water surface temperature is averaging 40 degrees. Saturday the water was stained in the back of creeks and clearer out in the main river. Largemouth Bass : Fishermen had few bites but when they did, they were ... (click for more)

Emily Parish, director of Conservation for the Land Trust for Tennessee will be the featured speaker for the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency’s March Nature @ Noontime. The program will be held on Thursday, March 5, at the TWRA’s Region II Ray Bell Building in the Ellington Agriculture Complex. Ms. Parish will speak about the history and programs for The Land Trust for ... (click for more)

An Ooltewah woman testified Tuesday that her son's girlfriend told her they had no regrets for trying to kill her by setting her house on fire. Paula K. Shouse said she asked Gladys George, "You tried to kill me" and she replied, "Yes, we did." She said she asked Ms. George, "Do you regret what you did" and she answered, "No, not at all." Ms. Shouse also said the only reason ... (click for more)

Charles Holsey, 19, was shot and killed Monday night. The preliminary police investigation indicates that during a drug transaction at 310 Sylvan St., a fight broke out and Holsey was shot once. Holsey then left in his vehicle later wrecking in the 700 block of North Market Street. One other person involved in the crash was taken by ambulance to a local hospital. ... (click for more)

Tennessee needs health care reform. Expanding Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, or "Obamacare," was not the best solution for Tennesseans. That is why the vast majority of Tennessee legislators never publicly supported the plan defeated in a special legislative session in February. It is important to distinguish health care from health insurance. As one physician ... (click for more)

I am deeply saddened that over two dozen members of Congress – all Democrats – will be boycotting a speech by Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, when he speaks in Washington tonight. I am also offended that the President of the United States will not receive Netanyahu prior to the speech – a customary gesture on such occasions – because he claims it is too close to ... (click for more)